High-profile activist faces court after coal port blockade

A climate activist who came to national attention after being punched by a police officer while protesting has faced court after being arrested during Rising Tide's Newcastle port blockade.

Hannah Thomas, a former Greens candidate in the Sydney electorate of Grayndler, was arrested at the Rising Tide People's Blockade on November 28 2025.

Thousands of people entered the water near the Port of Newcastle, the world's biggest coal export port, to protest coal's role in driving climate change.

Ms Thomas faced a Newcastle court on Friday charged with entering or remaining on and seriously disrupting or obstructing the use of a major facility.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

She had previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

A conviction was not recorded and Ms Thomas was placed on a good behaviour order for 12 months.

"As Europe swelters through a record-breaking, killer heatwave, NSW Police are taking peaceful protesters to court for sounding the alarm on climate collapse," said Ms Thomas.

"The real threat to our future is a system that profits from climate destruction and war, not those who protest it."

A second charge of contravene notice prohibiting/regulating use of vessels was dismissed by Judge Caleb Franklin.

"Today's outcome is welcome - but the threat of imprisonment should never have been a possibility and would have been unthinkable in Australia only a few years ago," Julia Grix, the executive director and principal solicitor of Climate Defenders Australia, said.

"Hannah Thomas should never have faced the prospect of time in jail for participating in a peaceful protest."

Ms Grix was part of a legal team that ran a successful constitutional challenge to the anti-protest laws before the NSW Supreme Court in 2023.

"Climate Defenders Australia is proud to represent peaceful protesters like Hannah Thomas and will continue to see these cases through the courts to defend the rights of concerned citizens involved in this event," Ms Grix said.

The 2025 People's Blockade was the largest mobilisation Rising Tide had ever done, with more than 8000 people involved. At least 130 were arrested during the protest.

"I'm proud to have been part of a mass movement willing to put their bodies and liberties on the line to disrupt the coal and gas industry," Ms Thomas said.